WEBVTT - Chip Ingram - Oct 26 - 9:30 am 0:00:11.750 --> 0:00:14.310 Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 0:00:14.510 --> 0:00:16.550 Can you think of someone that used to be a 0:00:16.710 --> 0:00:21.480 really strong, vibrant follower of Jesus, but today isn't walking 0:00:21.520 --> 0:00:22.090 with him at all? 0:00:22.720 --> 0:00:25.800 What happened and why? That's today. Stay with me. 0:00:27.880 --> 0:00:31.620 Paul warned Timothy plainly. In the last times, some will 0:00:31.660 --> 0:00:35.500 fall away from the faith, not gradually and obviously, but 0:00:35.600 --> 0:00:39.379 quietly through what they pay attention to. Today on Living 0:00:39.479 --> 0:00:43.190 on the Edge, Chip Ingram opens 1 Timothy chapter 4 0:00:43.190 --> 0:00:46.949 and gets specific about what causes spiritual drift and what 0:00:46.990 --> 0:00:50.030 it takes to go the other direction. I'm Dave Drewy, 0:00:50.090 --> 0:00:53.430 and we're continuing our series, You Can Make Disciples, Personal 0:00:53.490 --> 0:00:56.510 Coaching from the Apostle Paul. If you have your Bible, 0:00:56.590 --> 0:00:59.750 please open it now to 1 Timothy chapter 4. Now 0:00:59.810 --> 0:01:02.470 here's Chip with a message he's calling, Step Out. 0:01:03.470 --> 0:01:05.560 Were you guys ready to dig in, get a little 0:01:05.580 --> 0:01:09.150 more coaching from the Apostle Paul? We're going to look 0:01:09.170 --> 0:01:13.130 at chapter four. And each time, you know, we want 0:01:13.150 --> 0:01:16.709 to get a little tip. And you can fill this 0:01:16.770 --> 0:01:20.310 in at the very top. Tip number four from the 0:01:20.350 --> 0:01:28.170 Apostle Paul is this. Adversity will either make you or 0:01:28.250 --> 0:01:33.860 break you. The only question in all of that is 0:01:33.900 --> 0:01:37.000 how are you going to respond? And some of you 0:01:37.040 --> 0:01:39.959 have had lives that have not been scarred very much. 0:01:41.260 --> 0:01:42.120 Fasten your seatbelt. 0:01:43.380 --> 0:01:46.150 I don't mean that badly, and it's not some fearful 0:01:46.209 --> 0:01:49.370 life of waiting for the other shoe to drop. In 0:01:49.710 --> 0:01:55.309 this world, according to the greatest authority, you will have tribulation. 0:01:56.220 --> 0:01:59.740 But, he said, I've overcome the world. 0:02:02.040 --> 0:02:05.360 But adversity comes into people's lives, and it literally comes 0:02:05.730 --> 0:02:11.090 I mean, there's just, it creates two very clear paths, victims, survivors, 0:02:11.610 --> 0:02:17.899 and thrivers. Adversity comes and some people blame God, they 0:02:17.940 --> 0:02:23.320 blame other people, they blame themselves. Sometimes it causes you 0:02:23.360 --> 0:02:27.920 to persevere and do things and overcome things and builds 0:02:28.020 --> 0:02:31.260 character in your life and causes you to see things 0:02:31.300 --> 0:02:34.450 you never saw, causes you to take steps you would 0:02:34.470 --> 0:02:38.200 have never taken. forces you to relocate or think differently 0:02:38.240 --> 0:02:41.860 about everything. And you'll go back to multiple windows in 0:02:41.900 --> 0:02:44.780 your life where that adversity was the. 0:02:44.780 --> 0:02:46.680 Worst thing in the world on the front end. 0:02:47.100 --> 0:02:49.040 And you look in the rear view mirror and you think, wow, 0:02:49.919 --> 0:02:52.940 where would I be if that had not happened to me? 0:02:53.760 --> 0:02:56.120 Right? The apostle Paul. 0:02:55.880 --> 0:02:59.840 Now is going to do some coaching with young Timothy. 0:03:00.400 --> 0:03:02.000 And what he wants to do is he wants to 0:03:02.060 --> 0:03:06.260 help Timothy build resilience. So with that, let's look at 0:03:06.860 --> 0:03:10.839 chapter four. He opens it up, you'll notice in your notes, 0:03:10.860 --> 0:03:13.940 with a description of false teachers and where the evil 0:03:13.980 --> 0:03:17.820 comes from. But the Spirit explicitly says that in the 0:03:17.900 --> 0:03:22.530 latter times, here's this phrase again, he's talking about church people. 0:03:23.169 --> 0:03:26.090 Some will fall away from, have you put a box 0:03:26.130 --> 0:03:27.230 around this enough times yet? 0:03:28.150 --> 0:03:28.590 The faith. 0:03:29.410 --> 0:03:29.750 Why? 0:03:30.310 --> 0:03:36.270 Paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons. 0:03:37.070 --> 0:03:39.590 And by the way, before you get like, oh, paranormal, 0:03:39.680 --> 0:03:42.280 and that's gotta be really bizarre stuff, or it was 0:03:42.300 --> 0:03:44.040 like where I lived in Santa Cruz, and we had, 0:03:44.060 --> 0:03:49.040 I mean, audio and visual manifestations of demonic activity, and 0:03:49.320 --> 0:03:49.700 we had. 0:03:49.820 --> 0:03:52.480 Witches and warlocks. It was the most bizarre place in 0:03:52.500 --> 0:03:52.880 the world. 0:03:53.940 --> 0:03:57.930 I would suggest to you, much of the teachings of 0:03:57.970 --> 0:04:02.930 the enemy are as simple as follow your heart. You 0:04:02.970 --> 0:04:07.550 deserve to be happy. If you do good, everything good 0:04:07.570 --> 0:04:11.820 will come your way. The number one means of spiritual 0:04:11.860 --> 0:04:17.179 warfare is not bizarre stuff. It's three little letters. 0:04:17.940 --> 0:04:22.119 L-I-E. It's lies. Lie. 0:04:22.740 --> 0:04:24.979 I'm not in love anymore. I must have married the 0:04:25.000 --> 0:04:28.080 wrong person. No, you just stopped doing the things that 0:04:28.120 --> 0:04:30.870 built intimacy and so you've drifted apart and you're going 0:04:30.890 --> 0:04:32.190 to have to go back to the things that you 0:04:32.230 --> 0:04:36.180 did in the beginning. And you need to own your part, 0:04:36.279 --> 0:04:37.900 and you need to ask for forgiveness, and you need 0:04:37.920 --> 0:04:42.600 to extend forgiveness. But instead, we believe the lie, we 0:04:42.640 --> 0:04:47.980 take some steps, we make some decisions. And he says, 0:04:48.750 --> 0:04:53.170 they come by the means of hypocrisy of liars seared 0:04:53.250 --> 0:04:57.910 in their own conscience as with a branding iron. By 0:04:57.950 --> 0:05:00.930 the way, these lies are coming through people inside the church, right? Right? 0:05:01.820 --> 0:05:04.560 So what it says, Chip, are you telling me that 0:05:04.600 --> 0:05:09.080 deceitful spirits and the teaching of demons by the hypocrisy 0:05:09.110 --> 0:05:12.120 of liars who are seared in their conscience with a 0:05:12.170 --> 0:05:15.929 branding iron, who are actually teaching things like they forbid marriage, 0:05:16.290 --> 0:05:19.270 they advocate abstaining from some foods which God has created 0:05:19.670 --> 0:05:22.270 and trying to take people away from a knowledge of 0:05:22.310 --> 0:05:22.650 the truth? 0:05:23.430 --> 0:05:27.690 Yes. It was happening then, it's happening now. And then 0:05:27.730 --> 0:05:30.390 he gives a little corrective, for everything created by God 0:05:30.450 --> 0:05:30.770 is good. 0:05:31.360 --> 0:05:34.200 And nothing is to be rejected if it's received with gratitude. 0:05:34.640 --> 0:05:37.400 For it's sanctified by means of the word of God 0:05:37.810 --> 0:05:40.510 in prayer. And basically he goes back to, remember he 0:05:40.550 --> 0:05:42.830 started with the false teachers. He said, this is what 0:05:42.870 --> 0:05:45.210 you need to do. Chapter two was how we need 0:05:45.230 --> 0:05:48.290 to address it. Chapter three, we need a long haul strategy. 0:05:48.630 --> 0:05:51.490 We need to develop really godly men with character who 0:05:51.690 --> 0:05:53.150 are going to lead the church in the future. 0:05:53.600 --> 0:05:56.440 And then it's like, now Timmy, I don't know if 0:05:56.460 --> 0:05:57.720 you've ever called him Timmy. 0:05:58.360 --> 0:06:02.750 But you need to understand that The source of these 0:06:02.830 --> 0:06:06.930 lies aren't just these, quote, bad people. They're energized by 0:06:06.970 --> 0:06:11.760 the enemy. And the enemy is energizing false teaching inside 0:06:11.800 --> 0:06:15.560 the church, and it has the appearance of godliness. They're 0:06:15.680 --> 0:06:19.360 super disciplined. They don't eat these foods. They don't worship 0:06:19.420 --> 0:06:21.460 on these. They don't, they don't, they don't, they don't. 0:06:21.700 --> 0:06:23.840 And here's all these things they do, and it's some 0:06:23.980 --> 0:06:30.550 works religiosity to somehow put burdens on people. instead of 0:06:30.610 --> 0:06:34.830 experience God's grace and forgiveness. And so he's just telling them, 0:06:35.330 --> 0:06:38.080 everything that God gives us is good. And if you 0:06:38.240 --> 0:06:41.800 receive it with thanksgiving, in the word and prayer, it 0:06:41.880 --> 0:06:47.540 sanctifies it. And then in verse six through 10, he's 0:06:47.580 --> 0:06:49.900 gonna give them a prescription to be a good teacher. 0:06:50.660 --> 0:06:53.020 He says, in pointing out these things to the brothers 0:06:53.060 --> 0:06:56.100 and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, 0:06:56.900 --> 0:07:02.820 constantly nourished on the words of the faith, and of 0:07:02.960 --> 0:07:07.000 good doctrine, which you have been following. Now, did you 0:07:07.060 --> 0:07:09.260 notice something? Because this is going to be really key. 0:07:10.580 --> 0:07:15.300 The people who were genuine followers at one point, to 0:07:15.380 --> 0:07:22.140 some degree, started paying attention to deceitful spirits and the 0:07:22.200 --> 0:07:25.680 teachings of demons, and he is going to do well 0:07:25.760 --> 0:07:29.880 by pointing out these things, and he's constantly nourished by 0:07:30.190 --> 0:07:34.050 on the words of faith and good doctrine. Do you understand? 0:07:34.070 --> 0:07:37.440 I mean, just write this in your notes. You are 0:07:37.880 --> 0:07:41.380 the product of your thought life. As a man thinks 0:07:41.520 --> 0:07:45.560 in his heart, so is he. How you think, how 0:07:45.620 --> 0:07:50.320 you view yourself, your emotions, your perspective, your worldview is a. 0:07:50.360 --> 0:07:51.730 Product of your thought life. 0:07:52.370 --> 0:07:55.090 And that's why Colossians 3, it'll say, set your mind 0:07:55.150 --> 0:07:56.650 on the things that are above, not on the things 0:07:56.690 --> 0:07:59.210 that are on earth. That's why Paul in Romans 8 0:07:59.210 --> 0:08:01.790 will say, the mind set on the flesh is death, 0:08:02.070 --> 0:08:04.950 but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. 0:08:06.220 --> 0:08:08.440 See, it's so, so important. 0:08:08.560 --> 0:08:12.140 Later in Romans chapter 12, when he talks about how 0:08:12.250 --> 0:08:15.470 real life change, he doesn't say, go to church, do 0:08:15.530 --> 0:08:17.390 a lot of good things, and try really hard to 0:08:17.430 --> 0:08:19.590 be nice, and try hard to be distant, and try 0:08:19.610 --> 0:08:23.330 to be godly. He says, stop allowing this world system 0:08:23.370 --> 0:08:27.210 and its lies to squeeze you into its mold. By contrast, 0:08:27.410 --> 0:08:31.110 allow your mind to be renewed that your life and 0:08:31.170 --> 0:08:36.430 lifestyle would actually prove, experience, taste, What God's will is, 0:08:36.690 --> 0:08:38.209 that it's good, acceptable. 0:08:38.270 --> 0:08:41.240 And perfect. And that's why, are you ready for this? 0:08:41.280 --> 0:08:42.560 This sounds crazy. 0:08:43.059 --> 0:08:46.700 The most important decision you'll make every single day, multiple 0:08:46.740 --> 0:08:49.060 times a day, is what you allow in your mind. 0:08:50.580 --> 0:08:54.380 What you watch. What you listen to. How long you 0:08:54.420 --> 0:08:57.790 linger in this conversation. And by the way, it's not 0:08:57.850 --> 0:08:59.809 just media. It's not just culture. 0:09:00.290 --> 0:09:03.770 It's your friends. Proverbs 13.20 says this. 0:09:05.120 --> 0:09:07.380 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but 0:09:07.420 --> 0:09:11.980 the companion of a fool will suffer harm. I remember 0:09:13.059 --> 0:09:16.780 a mom was kind of giving it to her 14, 0:09:16.780 --> 0:09:20.300 15-year-old boy that was kind of letting her know that 0:09:20.900 --> 0:09:22.840 he knows kind of what life is all about and 0:09:23.260 --> 0:09:27.380 was hanging with some people that she, being a little older, said, 0:09:27.420 --> 0:09:29.780 you know, I see where this is going. And I'll 0:09:29.800 --> 0:09:33.560 never forget overhearing her. She said, son, show me your friends. 0:09:34.230 --> 0:09:35.490 and I'll show you your future. 0:09:36.950 --> 0:09:37.670 And I got news. 0:09:37.710 --> 0:09:44.440 That's true of 14-year-olds and 24-year-olds and 44-year-olds and 64-year-olds 0:09:44.580 --> 0:09:47.780 and 74-year-olds and 79-year-olds. 0:09:48.860 --> 0:09:50.140 I wanted to make sure everyone got included. 0:09:54.370 --> 0:09:57.810 So he says, you'll be a good servant if you 0:09:57.830 --> 0:09:58.750 point these things out. 0:09:59.070 --> 0:10:02.460 But notice, again the content. 0:10:02.660 --> 0:10:06.750 But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of 0:10:06.950 --> 0:10:13.470 old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. 0:10:14.890 --> 0:10:20.610 For bodily training is, this translation says, just slightly beneficial. 0:10:20.650 --> 0:10:23.210 The idea it's beneficial. 0:10:22.710 --> 0:10:23.350 For this life. 0:10:23.450 --> 0:10:29.710 It's physical training, working out, eating healthy. It's super helpful 0:10:29.970 --> 0:10:36.130 for now, but it's limited. But godliness is beneficial for 0:10:36.270 --> 0:10:39.010 all things since it holds promise for the present life 0:10:39.679 --> 0:10:41.540 and also for the life to come. 0:10:43.059 --> 0:10:44.840 And then he gives us one of those statements. 0:10:45.020 --> 0:10:54.720 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full What? That godliness, discipline, 0:10:55.840 --> 0:11:01.020 going into spiritual training benefits this life and the next. 0:11:01.340 --> 0:11:03.720 And then look at the little purpose clause. And then 0:11:03.740 --> 0:11:04.120 he says. 0:11:05.170 --> 0:11:08.209 For it is for this, becoming a godly man, we 0:11:08.290 --> 0:11:11.349 labor and strive. And that word labor, we get our 0:11:11.370 --> 0:11:15.090 word gym or gymnastic, athletic training. 0:11:15.370 --> 0:11:16.130 It's pushing. 0:11:16.370 --> 0:11:19.530 It's the third set and your arms are shaking and 0:11:19.590 --> 0:11:21.620 someone has to spot you. But you know it's the 0:11:21.670 --> 0:11:23.550 third set or for some of you the fourth set 0:11:23.620 --> 0:11:27.320 or the fifth set. That's where things are tearing down 0:11:27.340 --> 0:11:29.459 and that's where things are going to build up. He says, 0:11:29.540 --> 0:11:32.700 for this we labor and strive because we have set 0:11:32.800 --> 0:11:35.980 our hope on the living God, who is the Savior 0:11:36.020 --> 0:11:39.180 of all mankind, and especially of believers. 0:11:41.580 --> 0:11:44.160 Stay with us. More from Chip Ingram in just a moment. 0:11:44.570 --> 0:11:47.170 This is Living on the Edge. Did you know Chip's 0:11:47.230 --> 0:11:50.330 teaching is also available on YouTube? It's a great way 0:11:50.370 --> 0:11:52.709 to go deeper or share a message with someone in 0:11:52.750 --> 0:11:55.570 your life. Just go to YouTube and search Living on 0:11:55.610 --> 0:11:59.610 the Edge with Chip Ingram. You'll find complete video teaching series, 0:11:59.850 --> 0:12:03.270 life lessons with Chip, and content you won't see anywhere else. 0:12:03.700 --> 0:12:06.939 While you're there, hit subscribe so you never miss anything new. 0:12:07.480 --> 0:12:10.760 That's Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram on YouTube. 0:12:11.420 --> 0:12:12.850 Now back to today's message. 0:12:13.420 --> 0:12:15.930 And then he gives him this personal challenge. 0:12:16.290 --> 0:12:21.710 He says, prescribe and teach these things. And listen, listen, 0:12:21.750 --> 0:12:25.709 this is Paul really coaching individually. Let no one look 0:12:25.730 --> 0:12:30.130 down on your youthfulness, but rather, where should he be godly? 0:12:31.010 --> 0:12:33.959 In your speech, in your conduct, in your love, in 0:12:33.980 --> 0:12:37.740 your faith, in your purity, show yourself an example of 0:12:37.780 --> 0:12:38.500 those who believe. 0:12:38.520 --> 0:12:40.699 In other words, you know what? 0:12:41.400 --> 0:12:43.920 You need to step out. You need to set an example. 0:12:44.250 --> 0:12:45.950 You need to be godly in what you say. You 0:12:45.990 --> 0:12:48.710 need to be godly in your relationships, godly in your thinking. 0:12:48.730 --> 0:12:53.689 A better word maybe is Christ-like. Prescribe and teach. 0:12:53.470 --> 0:12:57.550 These things, he says. Then he goes on in verse 13. 0:12:57.540 --> 0:13:01.770 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of 0:13:01.830 --> 0:13:02.770 God's word. 0:13:02.870 --> 0:13:05.170 And to exhortation and teaching. 0:13:05.950 --> 0:13:07.890 In other words, again, it goes back to, do you 0:13:07.910 --> 0:13:11.179 understand the threads all through this chapter are, where's your 0:13:11.220 --> 0:13:14.660 mind going? The people who drift away start paying attention 0:13:14.720 --> 0:13:15.380 to other things. 0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:18.680 They start drifting. Oh, have you heard about this? Have 0:13:18.730 --> 0:13:19.530 you watched this? 0:13:19.910 --> 0:13:25.590 But you nourished yourself. Pay attention to the reading of 0:13:25.640 --> 0:13:28.329 God's word. And then it goes on, the exhortation. That 0:13:28.350 --> 0:13:31.150 means putting it into practice. An exhortation takes more than 0:13:31.210 --> 0:13:33.770 one person. That's like, hey, come on, together, let's go. 0:13:33.790 --> 0:13:39.090 And then he says, teaching. That's explaining what's true and 0:13:39.130 --> 0:13:42.590 applying it to real life. Do not neglect the spiritual 0:13:42.610 --> 0:13:45.410 gift within you which was granted you through the prophecy 0:13:45.809 --> 0:13:47.370 with the laying on of hands. 0:13:47.110 --> 0:13:52.930 By the council of elders. Take pains. With these things, 0:13:53.770 --> 0:13:55.610 be absorbed in them. 0:13:55.730 --> 0:13:56.150 Why? 0:13:56.570 --> 0:13:59.090 So that your progress will be evident to all. 0:13:59.130 --> 0:13:59.910 What progress? 0:14:00.330 --> 0:14:04.290 You're becoming more like Jesus. You're more loving. You're more patient. 0:14:04.490 --> 0:14:07.780 You have more joy. You're more forgiving. You're a better dad. 0:14:07.980 --> 0:14:12.280 You're a better husband. Hey, Timothy, this is what you 0:14:12.340 --> 0:14:15.100 need in order to survive the world that you're living in. 0:14:17.120 --> 0:14:22.960 Pay close attention, finally, he says, to yourself. and to 0:14:22.980 --> 0:14:28.520 the teachings, literally the doctrines, what's true. Persevere in these things. 0:14:30.300 --> 0:14:33.140 Some of you that lift weights would love this word, persevere. 0:14:33.740 --> 0:14:37.680 It's everywhere. James 1, remember, says, consider it all joy 0:14:37.730 --> 0:14:41.090 when you encounter various trials, knowing the testing of your 0:14:41.130 --> 0:14:45.920 faith produces perseverance. And allow or let perseverance to have 0:14:45.960 --> 0:14:49.440 its outworking in your life that you might be teleos 0:14:49.600 --> 0:14:53.760 or mature, right, perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. That's 0:14:53.800 --> 0:14:58.440 this word. He says persevere. It's hupo meno, compound word. 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:02.870 Hupo means to be under. Meno, under pressure or stress. 0:15:03.870 --> 0:15:07.610 Some of you actually pay to be under pressure and stress. 0:15:09.270 --> 0:15:18.190 And you usually have a partner. You put it on here. Hoopo, mano, hoopo, mano, hoopo, mano. 0:15:18.330 --> 0:15:21.190 And then it's, come on, come on, come on, right? 0:15:22.550 --> 0:15:24.610 And you understand how it works. I'm sure most of 0:15:24.650 --> 0:15:27.950 you do. Is when you get to that third set, 0:15:29.150 --> 0:15:31.780 is what you're doing is you're tearing the fibers of 0:15:31.820 --> 0:15:34.640 the muscle just ever so slightly. And the reason is 0:15:34.660 --> 0:15:35.980 you don't want to lift hard two days in a 0:15:36.000 --> 0:15:37.900 row the same muscles is you don't want to tear 0:15:37.920 --> 0:15:40.330 too much. But what you do is you tear them 0:15:40.350 --> 0:15:42.430 a little bit And then if you're smart, you get 0:15:42.470 --> 0:15:44.990 some protein in you. And then in about 24 to 0:15:44.990 --> 0:15:48.650 48 hours, as it heals back, guess what? That's why 0:15:48.700 --> 0:15:53.380 your muscles get bigger. Your muscles get bigger because of resistance. 0:15:54.640 --> 0:15:59.680 Your soul expands with godliness when you go through adversity. 0:16:01.880 --> 0:16:03.600 God uses suffering. 0:16:05.640 --> 0:16:09.510 He says, for Christ has given us an example, 1 0:16:09.510 --> 0:16:12.980 Peter 2, that we should follow. That since he suffered, 0:16:13.460 --> 0:16:17.710 we should also suffer following in his steps. And he says, 0:16:17.750 --> 0:16:19.690 if you suffer for doing wrong, what good is that? 0:16:20.010 --> 0:16:23.070 But when you suffer for doing what is right, this 0:16:23.250 --> 0:16:28.330 finds favor with God. How we respond, literally, there's little 0:16:29.100 --> 0:16:32.020 banquets and things going on in heaven and people high-fiving 0:16:32.060 --> 0:16:32.480 one another. 0:16:32.760 --> 0:16:33.980 Did you see what. 0:16:33.860 --> 0:16:36.040 That brother went through, what that sister went through? 0:16:36.260 --> 0:16:38.280 Did you see how they persevered? They wouldn't give up, 0:16:38.320 --> 0:16:39.550 they wouldn't give up, they wouldn't give up. 0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:42.400 And what happens is, just like your body gets stronger, 0:16:44.500 --> 0:16:46.739 your soul, your faith. 0:16:48.180 --> 0:16:53.690 Gets stronger. That's how you build resilience. That's how you 0:16:53.730 --> 0:16:54.330 bounce back. 0:16:55.680 --> 0:16:58.480 And we all want to be that person, but we 0:16:58.520 --> 0:17:03.390 don't want the process, right? I mean, I was giving 0:17:03.410 --> 0:17:05.389 a guy a hard time who had kind of a 0:17:05.430 --> 0:17:08.070 tight shirt on, and some of us could tell he 0:17:08.109 --> 0:17:12.389 lifts weights. And so as we were standing next to 0:17:12.430 --> 0:17:14.310 each other, I let him know that this is really 0:17:14.350 --> 0:17:17.110 a very, very loose shirt, and I wear these loose 0:17:17.150 --> 0:17:18.830 shirts because I'm completely ripped underneath. 0:17:21.950 --> 0:17:22.780 And that would be a lie. 0:17:24.530 --> 0:17:26.950 But I'll tell you what, you know, if you've ever 0:17:26.990 --> 0:17:29.409 gone through that cycle and you get with a buddy and, 0:17:30.109 --> 0:17:31.330 you know, it's three times a week. 0:17:31.350 --> 0:17:32.800 And they always, I don't know why, they always want 0:17:32.820 --> 0:17:35.180 to lift at 6 a.m. or some stupid hour, right? 0:17:37.040 --> 0:17:38.700 And, you know, the first three days you do it 0:17:38.760 --> 0:17:40.300 and you think this is the dumbest idea in the 0:17:40.359 --> 0:17:42.320 world and they shame you into it. And you do 0:17:42.359 --> 0:17:44.820 it another week and everything still really hurts. And about 0:17:44.840 --> 0:17:47.320 the third week, you look down and you go, I 0:17:48.580 --> 0:17:51.840 think a little something's happening there, right? You do it 0:17:51.859 --> 0:17:56.510 about six weeks. Dude, about three months, pretty soon you 0:17:56.530 --> 0:17:59.430 start looking like a different person. And what you're doing 0:17:59.530 --> 0:18:04.930 physically is willfully taking your body through resistance and breaking 0:18:04.970 --> 0:18:08.390 it down so that it can grow back stronger. Could 0:18:08.410 --> 0:18:12.369 you imagine what would happen if you would rethink adversity 0:18:12.430 --> 0:18:16.480 rather than, oh God, why me? Or this is so terrible, 0:18:16.700 --> 0:18:20.179 or life's not really fair. And you saw it more as, 0:18:20.900 --> 0:18:23.220 the hand of a kind and loving God in the 0:18:23.260 --> 0:18:26.179 midst of a very fallen world of which he allows 0:18:26.260 --> 0:18:28.960 people the freedom to make decisions, including you and me, 0:18:29.420 --> 0:18:32.159 some of which really hurt other people. And some, it's 0:18:32.200 --> 0:18:34.820 just a fallen world that if you would receive that 0:18:34.900 --> 0:18:39.620 as this is a test of my faith, hupo meno. 0:18:40.280 --> 0:18:42.760 And I'm going to get up each day and like Timothy, 0:18:43.420 --> 0:18:47.710 I'm going to take pains. I'm going to absorb myself. 0:18:47.930 --> 0:18:51.130 I'm going to renew my mind. I'm going to memorize 0:18:51.190 --> 0:18:53.390 the scripture. I'm going to get with some guys that 0:18:53.510 --> 0:18:55.970 really want to do life. And I will tell you what, 0:18:56.070 --> 0:18:58.650 in the midst of that adversity, we will meet you 0:18:59.050 --> 0:19:01.710 two years or five years or seven years from now, 0:19:02.210 --> 0:19:04.580 and you will have people say, I don't even know you. 0:19:05.630 --> 0:19:09.480 You used to have a temper. I mean, you used 0:19:09.500 --> 0:19:12.920 to be so negative about everything. Used to just rag 0:19:12.980 --> 0:19:14.560 on your wife all the time when we were out 0:19:14.600 --> 0:19:17.680 hanging out. Used to always be, you know, talking about 0:19:17.720 --> 0:19:18.300 this and that. 0:19:18.380 --> 0:19:22.119 And man, what happened to you? And they're not probably 0:19:22.140 --> 0:19:25.870 going to say something. Oh, you're so Christ-like. But they'll 0:19:25.910 --> 0:19:26.210 see it. 0:19:28.070 --> 0:19:33.730 This passage, coaching nuggets to me that are the big takeaways. 0:19:34.770 --> 0:19:38.570 Here's the truth. Here's the truth. And drink this in. 0:19:38.950 --> 0:19:42.950 It's in bold. some will fall away from the faith. 0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:45.340 I don't want to sound negative. 0:19:45.359 --> 0:19:47.570 I want to be realistic. Some of you in this 0:19:47.640 --> 0:19:51.750 room will fall away from the faith. You'll pay attention 0:19:51.790 --> 0:19:57.360 to other things. You'll buy cheap substitutes. You'll start with 0:19:57.420 --> 0:20:02.320 just a little flirting here or there, a little logging 0:20:02.420 --> 0:20:05.820 on here or there, a little bit more debt than normal. 0:20:07.480 --> 0:20:09.340 And two years from now or five years from now, 0:20:10.600 --> 0:20:12.170 You'll remember what it was like to be at a 0:20:12.190 --> 0:20:14.859 time like this and you'll probably poo-poo it because what 0:20:14.880 --> 0:20:17.260 happens when you fall away from the faith, you always 0:20:17.280 --> 0:20:24.100 have to then rewrite your past history. I've done this 0:20:24.140 --> 0:20:27.219 for living people for 40 years. I've sat in so 0:20:27.240 --> 0:20:30.040 many rooms. Well, what I realized was I never really 0:20:30.080 --> 0:20:32.860 was in love with her. Well, I can see where 0:20:32.900 --> 0:20:35.120 your porn addiction and stepping out on her and having 0:20:35.140 --> 0:20:38.140 a couple affairs would probably sort of mar your perspective 0:20:38.180 --> 0:20:41.730 of the past. You'd be surprised how many college freshmen 0:20:41.770 --> 0:20:44.950 go away to school and everyone else is smoking dope. 0:20:45.150 --> 0:20:46.909 And pretty soon, I'm not sure if I believe in 0:20:46.950 --> 0:20:49.330 God anymore. Big intellectual issue. 0:20:52.030 --> 0:20:54.820 You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram 0:20:55.300 --> 0:20:58.280 and a message titled Step Out. It comes from our 0:20:58.320 --> 0:21:01.740 current series called You Can Make Disciples Personal Coaching from 0:21:01.780 --> 0:21:05.200 the Apostle Paul. To revisit any part of today's lesson, 0:21:05.260 --> 0:21:10.340 just go to livingontheedge.org. Plus, every message in this series 0:21:10.460 --> 0:21:13.290 is on the Living on the Edge podcast. Subscribe and 0:21:13.350 --> 0:21:16.750 take it with you. Full-length sermons from Chip are also 0:21:16.810 --> 0:21:20.350 available on the Chip Ingram Sermon Podcast, wherever you listen. 0:21:21.250 --> 0:21:23.629 Chip said you are the product of your thought life. 0:21:23.990 --> 0:21:26.949 What you dwell on shapes who you become. And if 0:21:26.970 --> 0:21:31.030 you've been sensing drift and want a way forward, Chip's book, Yes, 0:21:31.170 --> 0:21:35.650 You Really Can Change, addresses exactly that. How real, lasting 0:21:35.730 --> 0:21:40.270 transformation actually works. This series is about discipleship, and we 0:21:40.330 --> 0:21:43.870 grow best in community. So with every purchase of Chip's book, 0:21:44.010 --> 0:21:47.260 we're including an extra copy to read with someone, a friend, 0:21:47.280 --> 0:21:50.140 a family member, someone ready to grow but not sure 0:21:50.180 --> 0:21:52.740 how to start. It's one way that we can help 0:21:52.800 --> 0:21:55.980 equip you to equip others. So get your copy and 0:21:56.080 --> 0:22:01.060 one to share at livingontheedge.org slash offers. This kind of 0:22:01.119 --> 0:22:04.320 teaching reaches people because listeners choose to invest in it. 0:22:04.880 --> 0:22:07.220 If you'd like to partner with us, it's simple. Just 0:22:07.280 --> 0:22:11.280 go online to livingontheedge.org and make a gift of any amount. 0:22:11.720 --> 0:22:16.939 Or call us at 888-333-6003. You can also reach us 0:22:17.020 --> 0:22:21.660 by mail at Living on the Edge, P.O. Box 3007, Atlanta, 0:22:21.700 --> 0:22:27.650 Georgia 30024. Well, Chip, you gave some practical, powerful guidance 0:22:27.730 --> 0:22:30.629 in your message today. What are some final thoughts for 0:22:30.690 --> 0:22:31.430 us to take home? 0:22:31.890 --> 0:22:32.490 Thanks, Dave. 0:22:33.050 --> 0:22:36.389 As we close today's program, I want you to pause 0:22:36.430 --> 0:22:41.629 with me. We heard some very, very strong warnings, and 0:22:41.650 --> 0:22:43.960 I think we're seeing some of the fruit of those warnings. 0:22:44.760 --> 0:22:47.200 The Apostle Paul says, no. 0:22:47.180 --> 0:22:50.900 One is immune from falling away. And he ties that 0:22:50.960 --> 0:22:54.460 with false teaching. And we're living in a day where 0:22:54.820 --> 0:22:57.679 there's a lot of false teaching. And the false teaching 0:22:57.770 --> 0:23:00.669 isn't just this direct, you know, God doesn't exist and 0:23:00.710 --> 0:23:04.980 you're crazy to believe in Jesus. It's this journey of deconstruction. 0:23:05.600 --> 0:23:08.159 And there's a whole generation of people that I'm spending 0:23:08.200 --> 0:23:11.440 a lot of time with right now that don't have 0:23:11.580 --> 0:23:16.340 clear understanding. And they're deeply, deeply confused. And here's what 0:23:16.380 --> 0:23:17.960 I want to say to you. I want to say 0:23:17.980 --> 0:23:20.639 it to parents. I want to say it to grandparents. 0:23:21.119 --> 0:23:23.199 And I want to say it directly to you that 0:23:23.240 --> 0:23:26.920 are younger in the faith. You need to determine what 0:23:27.140 --> 0:23:32.070 you believe and why. You cannot listen to everyone. There 0:23:32.109 --> 0:23:35.330